Local residents plant edibles at a community garden.
Local residents plant edibles at a community garden.

Understanding our rural communities’ strengths, challenges, and opportunities for achieving health and wellbeing for all.

Across America, many rural and Indigenous communities are finding inspiring solutions to improve health, equity, and wellbeing for all.

We all want a fair shot at building a good life—regardless of where we live—yet a lack of investment in job creation and other critical resources in rural and Native communities has resulted in inequitable gaps in health in these areas. Giving everyone the opportunity to live their healthiest possible life will make all of our communities—and our country—stronger.

When rural and Native communities thrive, our country thrives: our economy is more successful, our culture more vibrant, and our future brighter. Working families, small businesses, and family farmers in these areas help drive America’s economy, providing food, water, energy, products, and services that contribute to quality of life across the country. 

We use grants and impact investments to support the efforts of rural and Native communities to develop local and regional solutions that reduce inequities and help residents thrive. 

Browse resources, research, and emerging insights into the many factors that shape rural opportunity, health, and equity in America.

Editor's Pick

The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America

A sweeping and surprising new understanding of extreme poverty in America from Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer, Timothy J. Nelson.
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Resources From Grantees 

Explore health data for all U.S. congressional disgricts.

The Congressional District Health Dashboard

CDHD provides a way for policymakers and advocates to identify opportunities and challenges affecting the health and wellbeing of all people across congressional districts. 

Explore the Data
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PLACES Data

PLACES provides health data for small areas across the country.

Explore the Data

Impact Investments for Rural Health

Featured Initiatives and Research

Main street in a rural town.

Thrive Rural

Thrive Rural is focused on what works and what’s needed to advance rural opportunity, health, and equity in America.

A woman stands behind a counter wearing an apron.

Improved Data on Rural America

The Center on Rural Innovation is providing better rural data and analysis aimed at shifting the national conversation about racial and economic equity in rural places.

Two teen boys working together on a farm.

ChangeLab Solutions

ChangeLab Solutions offers resources for community-based organizations, local and state policymakers, and other changemakers working to advance rural prosperity and healthy equity. 

A small, green house located on a dirt road.

Integrated Rural Strategies

Neighborhood Funders Group's Integrated Rural Strategies Group is catalyzing and supporting funders interested in building community-led capacity to advance justice and equity for rural communities.

Three men smile while carrying on a conversation outside.

Partners for Rural Transformation

Partners for Rural Transformation is a national coalition dedicated to eliminating persistent poverty, advancing prosperity and economic justice in rural America.

A woman digs in a garden with her family.

Reimagining Rural Policy

Brookings Institutions provides analysis and recommendations to improve U.S. federal rural policies to promote equitable rural development.

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A farm with a barn and mountains in the background.

Marketplace Pulse: Health Insurance Coverage in Farm Country

The Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicaid are important sources of coverage in farm states, with between one-fifth and one-third of the states’ populations enrolled in these two programs.

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A $4 million loan from RWJF to the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises will help expand homeownership across Appalachia.

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Residents plant edibles at a large community garden.

Creating Economic Opportunity in Central Appalachia

RWJF has made a $5 million investment in the Invest Appalachia Fund (IA Fund) to spur inclusive economic growth and health equity in Central Appalachia

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